Surgical dilator, retractor and mounting pad
Inventors
Heiges, Bradley A. • Lane, II, David D.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9675334-B2
Publication Date
2017-06-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
A retractor having an elongate body that provides access to a surgical location within a patient. The elongate body includes a plurality of segments that are connected to one another through a plurality of ratcheting mechanisms. The ratcheting mechanisms permit relative movement of the segments with respect to one another when expander dilators are inserted within the retractor. The segments are surrounded and retained by a resilient elastomeric sleeve or bands. The distal end surfaces of the segments include thin edges that are configured to mobilize, dissect, split and retract the terminal tissues in the surgical area. The retractor is used in conjunction with a resilient elastomeric pad that is affixed to the patient and firmly engages the outer surface of the elongate body to thereby anchor the retractor to the patient. A separate anchoring device can be used to connect the retractor to the pad.
Core Innovation
A device for providing access to a surgical location within a patient includes an elongate body comprised of a plurality of segments, where each segment has a length spanning the distance between a patient’s skin surface at a proximal end portion and the surgical area juxtaposed at a distal end portion. The segments include a first pair of elongated members and a second pair of elongated members arranged oppositely about each other, with a structure that supports hinged cooperation and interdigiting engagement. First and second pairs of elongated members are arranged to provide radial separation and positioning between the skin surface and the surgical area.
The first pair of elongated members includes a first elongated member with a surface having a first set of stepped surfaces and one first recessed channel running parallel to a longitudinal axis, and a second elongated member with a surface having a second set of stepped surfaces and one second recessed channel running parallel to the longitudinal axis. The second pair of elongated members includes a third elongated member with a surface having a third set of stepped surfaces and a first recessed channel engaging member, and a fourth elongated member with a surface having a fourth set of stepped surfaces and a second recessed channel engaging member. The first pair hingedly cooperates with the second pair along one surface and cooperates with the second pair in an interdigiting manner along a second surface.
In expandable forms, the elongated body is expandable from a first position to at least one second position such that the cross sectional area of the elongated body is larger in the at least one second position. The first pair of elongated members is arranged oppositely about a first plane formed substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, and a second pair is arranged oppositely about a second plane having a different orientation about the longitudinal axis than the first plane. The first and second pairs are selectively engaged to provide radial separation along each plane.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims present a segmented access device and define the main inventive features using inventive structural relationships, including paired elongated members with stepped surfaces and recessed channels, hinged cooperation with interdigiting engagement, and expandable selective radial separation along different planes. The independent claims identified are three: clm-00001, clm-00023, and clm-00028.
Hingedly cooperating segmented body with stepped surfaces and recessed channels
An elongate body comprised of a plurality of segments spanning the distance between a patient’s skin surface at a proximal end portion and the surgical area at a distal end portion, where the plurality of segments include a first pair of elongated members and a second pair of elongated members arranged oppositely about each other; the first pair hingedly cooperate with the second pair along one surface and cooperate with the second pair in an interdigiting manner along a second surface, with surfaces having stepped surfaces and recessed channels running parallel to a longitudinal axis, and recessed channel engaging members.
Expandable segmented elongate body with selectively engaged radial separation about different planes
An elongated body comprised of a plurality of segments that is expandable from a first position to at least one second position, where the cross sectional area is larger in the at least one second position; the plurality of segments include a first pair of elongated members arranged oppositely about a first plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, and a second pair of elongated members arranged oppositely about a second plane having a different orientation about the longitudinal axis than the first plane; the first and second pairs are selectively engaged to provide radial separation along each plane, with stepped surfaces and recessed channel structures including recessed channel engaging members.
Paired elongated members hingedly cooperating and interdigitating with stepped surfaces extending along the length
An elongated body comprised of a plurality of segments including a first pair of elongated members and a second pair of elongated members arranged oppositely about each other; the first pair includes a first elongated member and a second elongated member each having stepped surfaces extending a length from a proximal end to a distal end and recessed channels running parallel to a longitudinal axis, and the second pair includes a third elongated member and a fourth elongated member each having stepped surfaces extending a length from the proximal end to the distal end and recessed channel engaging members; the first pair hingedly cooperates with the second pair along one surface and cooperates with the second pair in an interdigiting manner along a second surface.
Across the identified independent claims, the claim coverage centers on a segmented elongate access device with multiple oppositely arranged elongated members that interact through recessed channels and stepped surfaces, enabling hinged cooperation and interdigiting engagement. Additional independent coverage includes expandability with increased cross sectional area and selective radial separation using different planes, and in another independent claim scope, the stepped surfaces extend along the length from proximal end to distal end.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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